Wheeled load transfer device

Abstract

A wheeled load transfer device comprising a load containing member, a handle assembly and a pair of wheels affixed at opposite sides of said load containing member; said load containing member open at a first loading end and provided with a rear discharge door; said device adapted for scooping movement along a ground surface.

1 . A wheeled load transfer device comprising a load containing member, a handle assembly and a pair of wheels affixed at opposite sides of said load containing member; 
 said load containing member open at a first loading end and provided with a rear discharge door; said device adapted for scooping movement along a ground surface. The device of  claim 1  wherein said load containing member comprises opposing side portions, a bottom portion and a rear end; said rear end provided with said rear discharge door.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said rear discharge door is pivotally hinged proximate an upper edge of said discharge door.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein each wheel of said pair of wheels is mounted to a respective wheel axle housing affixed to respective said opposing side portions; said wheels having a common axis.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said handle assembly comprises first and second handle members and at least one cross member; said first and second handle members pivotally connected to respective said wheel axle housings.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said handle assembly is pivotable about axes of said pair of wheels; said handle assembly pivotable between at least one fixed position latched to said load containing member and unlatched positions.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said handle assembly is provided with a first latching mechanism; said first latching mechanism adapted to releasably lock said handle assembly into said at least one fixed position relative said load containing member.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said rear discharge door is provided with a second latching mechanism; said second latching mechanism adapted to releasing said rear discharge door from a closed load retaining position to an open load discharge position.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 8  wherein each said first latching mechanism and said second latching mechanism are operable by respective lever assemblies and respective first and second cables; said lever assemblies mounted to respective said handle members.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein, when said first latching mechanism is released from engagement with said load containing member, a front lip of said load containing member is in contact with a supporting ground surface supporting said device, and wherein said bottom portion is at a slight upward inclination to said surface; said inclination sufficient to provide clearance between a rear lower edge of said load containing member and said supporting ground surface.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said device may be urged into a scooping motion so as to load material from a volume of said material disposed on said ground surface, into said load containing member; loading of said material effected without need of hand held implements.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said first latching mechanism may be brought into engagement with said load containing member by rotation upwardly of said handle assembly from said unlatched positions.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said device is brought into an attitude for transporting said material in said load containing member by rotation downwardly of said handle assembly; outer ends of said handle assembly then at a height proximate the waist of an average user; said bottom portion of said load containing member then inclined downwardly so as to secure said material within said load containing member.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said material is discharged from said load containing member by operating said second latching mechanism to release said rear discharge door from said closed load retaining position to an open discharge position.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said load containing member is provided with an upper partial cover segment; said cover segment provided with a second latching element adapted to releasably engage with said first latching mechanism thereby to lock said handle assembly into a second fixed position relative said load containing member; said second fixed position adapted to provide a greater angle of downward inclination of said bottom portion of said load containing member during discharge of said material.  
   
   
       15 . A method for loading and transporting material by means of a wheeled load transfer device; said method not requiring use of a spade or shovel or other hand held implement; said method including the steps of: 
 (a) unlatching a load containing member of said device from a locked position relative a handle assembly so as to rotate said load containing member into a scooping position relative said handle assembly,    (b) urging said load containing member against a volume of material disposed on a supporting ground surface so as to load at least a portion of said material into said load containing member,    (c) rotating said handle assembly upwardly to a latched fixed position relative said load containing member,    (d) rotating said handle assembly downwardly to bring outer portions of said handle assembly proximate the waist of an average user,    (e) wheeling said transfer device to an unload destination,    (f) unlatching a rear discharge door from a first locked position to rotate to a second open discharge position.    
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said rear discharge door is pivotally hinged proximate an upper edge of said discharge door.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 3  wherein each wheel of said pair of wheels is mounted to a respective wheel axle housing affixed to respective said opposing side portions; said wheels having a common axis.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said handle assembly is pivotable about axes of said pair of wheels; said handle assembly pivotable between at least one fixed position latched to said load containing member and unlatched positions.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said handle assembly is pivotable about axes of said pair of wheels; said handle assembly pivotable between at least one fixed position latched to said load containing member and unlatched positions.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said handle assembly is pivotable about axes of said pair of wheels; said handle assembly pivotable between at least one fixed position latched to said load containing member and unlatched positions.